News and photos Reetha Santhanasamy
SINTOK, 23 June 2026: SMASH BATTLE UUM 2026, organised by Group A students of the GHZNK2013 Sport Tourism course from the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management (STHEM) in collaboration with Event Management Students’ Society (EMSS), was successfully held at the badminton courts of the UUM Sports Centre on 12 June 2026. The tournament featured 16 men’s doubles teams and eight women’s doubles teams.
The event formed part of the practical learning component for Sport Tourism course and was designed to encourage active participation in sports, promote healthy lifestyles, and provide students with opportunities to apply theories acquired in the classroom to the planning and management of an actual sporting event.
SMASH BATTLE UUM 2026 received strong support from STHEM, EMSS, and various sponsors. The event was graced by several distinguished guests, including Deputy Dean (Academic and International) of STHEM, Dr Eshaby binti Mustafa; Programme Coordinator of Event Management, Dr Lina Munirah binti Kamarudin, EMSS Advisor, Ms. Pavithra d/o Dorasamy; Programme Advisor and Course Lecturer, Mr. Liew Sien Leong, as well as representatives from the Student Representative Council (MPP) of STHEM.
The organising committee expressed its appreciation to UUM officials and sponsors for their invaluable support and contributions. Among the sponsors were Jurukur Jitu Runding (SEL) Sdn. Bhd., Jurukur Nik Hisyam & Tung Sdn. Bhd., Map Information System Sdn. Bhd., Jurukur Resources Sdn. Bhd., Ukur Tekun, Sabah Ukur Consultants Sdn. Bhd., Malten Mart, Inasis TNB, Proton Mart, Kilang Delima, The Vida World Sdn. Bhd. and MZ Badminton. Their support played a significant role in ensuring the successful execution of the programme.
According to the Programme Advisor and Course Lecturer, Mr Liew Sien Leong, the event successfully achieved its intended learning outcomes by providing students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities.
“This programme was organised by Group A Sport Tourism student, and I am proud of their ability to plan and manage the tournament successfully. Through this experience, they were able to move beyond classroom learning and apply theoretical knowledge in the context of a real sporting event,” he said.
“Numerous challenges were overcome through leadership, teamwork, and discipline, which are essential qualities in organising a successful event. Programmes such as this should continue to be organised, as they promote healthier lifestyles among UUM staff, students, and the wider community,” he added.
The Programme Director, Ms. Liew Sze Thing, a second-year Bachelor of Tourism Management (Hons.) student, described the tournament as a major milestone for the organising committee, as it represented one of their earliest experiences in managing a sporting event involving multiple stakeholders and participants.
She noted that the committee encountered various challenges throughout the planning and implementation stages. Nevertheless, the experience enabled members to acquire valuable practical knowledge while strengthen their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Positive feedback from participants also motivated the committee to continue organising more impactful and meaningful programmes in the future.
SMASH BATTLE UUM 2026 successfully achieved its objectives of encouraging sports participation, promoting healthy lifestyles, and providing students with valuable hands-on experience in sports event management. More importantly, the programme fostered sportsmanship and contributed to the development of future sport event professionals through practical hands-on learning.
